Hydrocarbon-gas generator



(No Model.) v I 4 Sheet-Sheet 1.

J. M. GOLDSMITH. v HYDROOARBONGAS GENERATUR; -N0. 261,546. Patented July -25, 1882.

N. PETERS. malo-uihugn hnr. Waihillslon. n.6,

(N0 Modei.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. M. GOLDSMITH. y HYDROGARBON GAS GENERATOR.

No. 261,546. Patented July 25, 1882.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet a.

' y J. M.- GOLDSMITH.

HYDROGARBON GAS GENERATOR. No. 261,546. Patented July 25, 1882.

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N4 PETERS. Photoutho m m, Wilxhmgton. D. c,

(No Model.) v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. M. GOLDSMITH.

HYDROGARBON GAS GENERATOR.

Patented J u1y 25, 1882.

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LII

UNir-En STATES PATENT OFF CE.

J. MORTIMER GOLDSMITH, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

HYDROCARBON-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 261,546, dated July 25, 1882.

Application filed September 16, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. MORTIMER GOLD- snurrr, of Boston, county of Sulfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and use ful Improvement in Hydrocarbon-Gas Generators, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing gas from hydrocarbon liquidssuch as,for exam ple,naph thaand has for its object to produce an apparatus which will be continuous in it'soperation while the gas is being consumed, and perfectly safe.

The invention is embodied in an apparatus in which the hydrocarbon fluid to be converted into gas is contained in a tightehamloer or reservoir and acted upon by compressed air therein to force the said liquid-into a retort, where it is acted upon by heat to convert it into a fixed gas, which is then passed through a suitable pipednto a receiver, a certain amount of air being mingled with it by means of an airinjecting apparatus in the pipe leading from the retort to the receiver.

The invention consists in parts and combinations of parts as hereinafter specifically claimed, the same being and operating substantially as specified.

Figure 1 represents in sidejelevation an apparatus for the manufacture of gas embodying myinvention; Fig. 2, a plan view thereof with the escape-pipe (D, Fig. 1) removed; Figs. 3 and 4, details illustrating the construction of the retort; Fig.5, a longitudinal section of the air-injecting apparatus and its controllingvalve; Fig.6, an end View thereof, the inclosing-chamber being removed; Fig. 7, a detail of the valve operated by the starting-burner; Figs. 8 and 9, a plan and side elevation, respectively, of a modification to be referred to; and Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the retorts, condensation -chamber, burners, air-injector, and connectin g-pipes on an enlarged scale from Fig. 1. A

The liquid reservoir or chamber a (shown as a strong cylinder having a slightly convex top and a corresponding concave bottom, a) is provided in its top with a suitable inlet-passage, o to receive the fluid to be converted into gas, andwit-h a pipe, a connected with a suitable air-compressin g apparatus to enable air to be forced into the chamber above the liquid.

Provision is made, as at a, for the attachment of a pressure-gage, and a safety-valve, c of any usual construction is provided to relieve the chamber a when the pressure rises above a certain point.

The pipe 0, may be providedwith a stop-cock to prevent the escape of the air that has been forced into the chamber a, the said air acting by its expansive force to expel all the liquid from the chambera in the operation of the apparatus, as hereinafterdescribed.

' The pipe I), connected with the lower portion ofthe reservoir a, and provided with a handoperated' stop-valve, b;of any usual construction, conveys the liquid into the lower section. 0, of the compound retort c 0, each section of which is constructed, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, of two pieces of cast metal, the lower one, 0 being provided with an inlet-passage, 0 near its periphery, and having a spiral partition, 0, extending from the said inlet-passage to the centerof the retort, where the upper portion, 0 of the retort is provided with an outlet-pa sage, 0, connected with the pipe d, leading to the next section of the compound retort, or with the pipe 0, leading to the condensation-chamberf. Y

The two portions 0? c of the retort, when bolted together, leave a spiral channel for the liquid from the inlet-passage c to the outletpassage c, in which it is thoroughly exposed to the heated surface of the retort and converted into fixed gas. The partition 0 is arranged as shown, so that this channel grows wider as it progresses from the inlet to the outlet passage, thus permitting a uniform flow Y of the vapor or gas as it becomes more and more heated, and consequently increases in volume.

The different sections 0 c of the retort are provided with depending flanges 0 to confine the flame of the burners by which they are heated and protect the said flame from air-currents. A retort or converting apparatus congas is delivered from the last one of the srctions of the retort, is shown as spherical in shape, the inlet-passage e entering at its lowest point and passing vertically upward nearly to the top, where the outletpipe 9 is connected with the said chamber.

A diaphragm, f, in the chamber f prevents the direct passage of the gas from the inletpipe e to the outlet-pipe g.

If any portion of the liquid is not properly converted into gas,it will condensein the chamber f or pipe 9, leading therefrom, and, collecting as a liquid in the bottom of the chamber f, will be gradually converted to fixed gas by the heat from the retort below it.

The heavier portion of the liquid, that cannot be converted into gas, may be withdrawn from the chamber f by the cockf when it rises above the said cook.

The gas from the retort and condensationchamber is carried by the pipe g through the air-injector it into the gas-receiver, of usual construction, consisting of the concentric cylindrical vessels 2' *5, having the space between them filled with water, and the inverted vessel 5 dipping in the said water and guided in any suitable or usual manner as it rises and falls when being filled with gas or having the gas therefrom consumed.

The gas is conveyed out of the gas-receiver by the pipej, to be consumed.

The pipe g, conveying gas from the retort to the gas-receiver, is provided with a check-valve, I between the said receiver and the air-injector h, to prevent any return flow of the gas from the receiver toward the said injector and retort.

Between the said checkvalve and the receiver is connected the supply-pipe lfor the burners m m, by which the sections 0 c of the retort are heated while the apparatus is in operation, the said pipe Z being provided with a controlling-cock, it, automatically operated, as hereinafter described.

A starting-burner, 0, is connected with the pipe I), by which the liquid is conveyed from its reservoir to the retort, the said burner being pivoted on the pipe and operating as a valve, the pivotal portion of the pipe being provided with a passage, 0, (see Fig. 7,) which is brought into line with the passage 0 of the burner when turned beneath the retort, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, and in full lines, Fig. 10, thus permitting the fluid to flow from the chamber a through the said burner, where it is ignited and heats the retort. As soon as the retort is suifleiently heated the burner o is turned aside therefrom, as shown in full lines, Fig. 1, thus closing the passage 0 in the pipe b.

The pipe I) and passage 0 to the jet of the burner o is filled with wicking or fibrous material o to partially vaporize the liquid passing to the burner, so that it will be more easily consumed.

The burner m may be pivoted, so that it may be moved out of the way when the startingburner '0 is in operation.

The pipe I) is provided with a stop-cock, 12, located between the boint of attachment of the burner o and the retort, it being operated automatically, as hereinafter described.

The air-injector h consists of a conical chamber, it, connected with the pipe g on the side toward which the gas is flowing, and a tapering jet-piece, 11?, connected with the pipe on the side from which the gas is flowing, and provided with a flange, k threaded to screw upon the larger end of the tapering air-chamber. The said flange is provided with a series of holes, 6, entering the space within the tapering air-chamber and around the tapering nozzle or jet-piece 11/ therein. The gas,in flowing through the said jet-piece into the enlarged pipe beyond,carries the air with it from the chamber and through the holes 6 from the surrounding atmosphere.

The said flange h is made smooth on its face to act as a valve-seat, and a valve-disk, h, pressed against it by the spring [L5, is provided with a series of holes, 7, which, by a slight rotary movement of the said plate, will be brought in linewith the holes 6 to permit the flow of air, or will be turned aside, so that the plate closes the said holes 6 and cuts oit' communication between the interior of the apparatus andthe external atmosphere, as shown in full-line position, Fig. 6. The said valveplate is inclosed in a sound-muffling chamber, 7L7, provided with a pipe, h, by which the air may be taken from a point remote from the burners by which the retort is operated, the said chamber mufflingthe hissing sound which is otherwiseproduced bytheairpassin gthrough the holes 6 7.

The valve plate or disk It is provided with a stem or handle, [L9, by which it is operated to open and close the holes 6, the said handle being connected with the end of a sleeve, h extending from the disk It outside the chamber h". This valve-plate, together with the valves n and p, is automatically operated by the following mechanism A valve-actuating lever, r, pivoted at 8, is provided with an unstable load-shown in Fig. 1 as consisting of mercury or other heavy liquid, partly filling the said lever, which is made tubular for that purpose, so that when in a horizontal position it will be balanced, the said liquid being distributed equally over its entire length. \Vhen, however, it is inclined slightly the mercury flows to the lower end, this disturbs the balance, and causes the lever to tip farther in the direction in which it is inclined.

In the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the load consists of arolling weight, r which, when the lever is horizontal, may be placed over the pivotal point thereof, but when the lever is inclined will roll to the lower end and tend to turn the lever farther in the direction toward which it is inclined. This lever is connected by the link 3 with the handle or operating-arm of the valve 1) and by the link t with the arm of the valve n, the said arm being extended on the other side of the valve and connected by a link,u, with the operatingment of the lever r in one direction, limited by the adjustable stop 7', will open the valves.

1), a, and k to their fullest extent, and a movement in the other direction, limited by the stop r will wholly close the valves 19 and h, and will nearly close the valve a, the latter being properly adjusted, however, to maintain a small flame at the burner m m, to prevent the retort from cooling, and also to ignite the full supply of gas when turned on again by the operation-of the machine.

The leverrhas connected therewith a rodyw,

sequently stopping the production of gas, and

at the same time closing the air-injector h, so that the gas in the pipeg will not escape therefrom, and, turning down the cock at and reducing the flame at the burners m m,while the.

gas is being withdrawn from the receiver, permitting the chamber 1' to descend, until,when

the gas therefrom is nearly consumed, the arm 31 engages the stop w,and first restores the leverr to its horizontal position and then causes it to-fall upon the stop r, opening the cooks p n and the valve of the air-injector h. The

operation, once started, will thus continue until the liquid is wholly removed from the reservoir a.

A diaphragm, A, in the gas-receiver ser\es to collect any liquid that may condense in the gas-receiver, the said condensed liquid passing off through a drip-pipe, 13, extended out of the gas-receiver into a suitable chamber, 13', coupled upon the said pipe, whichris provided with a suitable contro1ling-cock,]3 to close it when the said chamber B is removed for the purpose of emptyingits contents.

If desired, the internal chamberfl, of the gasreceiver may be dispensed with, the whole body of the chamber i being filled with water or liquid to seal the movable chamber '6 and the diaphragm A, being supported upon the pipes gj.

A burner, 0, located beneath the liquidchamber, a, is connected with the pipe g, and serves to heat the liquid in the chamber a, to thus maintain or produce the proper pressure therein for the purpose of forcing the liquid into the retort as the air-pressure diminishes, owing to its expansion, while the liquid is being-withdrawn.

The escape-pipe D for the safety-valve a is shown as entering the condensation-chamber f, whence a free passage is afforded for the escaping vapor and air through the pipe 1, the

saidvapor being converted into a gas in the chamber f.

The pipes g andj and the mouth of the air- .pipe h are all provided with diaphragms E, of gauze or netting, to prevent the passage of flame into the pipes and receiver in case gas should escape and become ignited.

1n setting the machinein operation the valve p is closed, the lever r being placed by hand in an oblique position, resting on stop a, and the starting-burner is placed beneath the retort c and the liquid issuing therefrom ignited.

-After the said liquid has burned fora sufficient length of time to heat the retort c the lever 'r is placed by hand upon the stop 1* and the valves p 'n k thus opened, when gas will immediately begin to be formed, which will first supply the burner m m, after which the starting-burner 0 will be removed from beneath the retort and the gas will continue to be generated, flowing into the receiver, and the operation will then continue automatically as long as desired until the supply of liquid is exhausted, the operation ceasing for a time when the gas-receiver is full and beginning again when it is nearly emptied.

The valve 1) may be closed when the machine is not in operation, thus preventing all escape or leakage.

I do not broadly claim an air-injector for carburetors having a chamber opening to the atmosphere, combined with a vapor-pipe opening into said chamber and adapted to be rotated on its longitudinal axis to cut off the air and vapor supply. M yair-injector difl'ers from this in having its jet-piece stationary and the air-supply controllable independently of the vapor-supply.

I claim- 1. In a gas-generating apparatus, the combination, with the reservoir for liquid to be converted into gas and the retort and pipe connectin g the said reservoir and retort and stopcock in the said pipe, of the actuating-lever for the said cook, it having an unstable load, as described, and the movable gas-receiving chamberand connecting mechanism between it and the said lever, as described, whereby the cock is closed when the gas-receiving chamber becomes filled and again opened as soon as the said chamber is emptied, substantially as described.

2. In a gas-generating apparatus, the gasgenerating retort and movable gas-receiving chamber and pipe connecting them, combined with the air-injector in the said pipe, the valve controlling its air-inlet passages, and actuating-lever for the said valve provided with an unstable load and connected with and oper- ICC ated by the said movable chamber to control the said valve, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The gas-generating retort, and receivingchamber, and burner to heat the said retort, and pipe connecting the said burner with the interior of the said receiving-chamber, combined with a cock in the said pipe, constructed as described, its actuating-lever provided with an unstable load, and the connecting mechanism between it and the said chamber, whereby the said cock is partially but not wholly closed when the said chamber is filled and is wholly opened when the said chamber is emptied, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a gas-generating apparatus, the combination, with the movable gas-receivin g chamber provided with an arm, and one or more cocks or valves controlling the generation of the gas, of the actuating-lever therefor provided with an unstable load, as described, and with a rod having projections or collars to be engaged by the said arm in the movement of the chamber, whereby the chamberat the end ofits movement in either direction operates the lever to shift its load from one arm to the other and the latter operates the valve or cook and retains it in one condition while the gasreceiviug chamber is being filled or emptied, substantially as described.

5. The.comhination, with the retort and gasreceiving chamber, of the condensation-chamber f, having an inlet-passage extended upward through its bottom connected with the said retort, and an outlet-passage at its top, and the diaphragm f, properly located to intercept the vertical flow of gas from the said inlet to the said outlet passage, substantially as described.

6. The air injector h, having the conical chamber h, the stationary tapering hollow jetpiece h therein, connected with the gas-supply pipe, and the perforated flange h on the chamber h, combined with the sleeve 7L surrounding the jet-pieee, and provided with a valve fitting and corresponding with the perforated flange, said sleeve and valve being movable around the jet-piece to cut oif the airsupply independently of the passage of the gas or vapor, substantially as described.

7. The controlling cocks or valves and their actuating lever, provided with an unstable load, combined with the connecting-links between the said lever and cooks or valves, slotted, as described, to permit independent movement of the lever before the cooks are affected thereby, substantially as described.

8. The controlling cocks or valves and gasreceiving chamber, combined with the tubular actuating-lever partially filled with a heavy liquid, and connecting mechanism between it and the said cocks or valves and between it and the gas-receiving chamber, substantially as described.

9. The liquid-reservoir and heating-burner thereunder,combined with a retort, and an outlet-pipe leading from the lower portion of the said reservoir thereto, and the safety-valve connected with the upper portion of the said chamber, and its escape-pipe connected with the passage by which gas is led away from the retort, substantially as described.

10. The retort consisting of a cast-metal chamber having a spiral partition arranged with gradually-increasing width between the successive convolutions thereof, and a coverin g-plate having a smooth surface fitted thereon, thus forming a chamber with a spiral channel of increasing size from one end to the other, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. The oil-supply pipe, a gas-generating apparatus, and the liquid-reservoir a and its safety-valve,combined with the heating-burner C, under said reservoir, for maintaining a pressure within the said chamber to expel the liquid therefrom, substantially as described.

12. The combination,with the hydrocarbonrescrvoir and fixing-retort, of the pipeleading therefrom and pivoted starting-burner audits automatically-operated cock, whereby the said burner is brought into communication with the interior of the reservoir when the burner arrives beneath the retort in its movement on its pivot, substantially as described.

13. The hydrocarbon-reservoir and fixingretort, combined with the fixed gas and starting-burners, both mounted on pivoted pipes, whereby one may be removed from beneath the retort when the other is placed there, substantially as and for the purpose described.

14. The fixing-retort and hydrocarbon-res I ervoir, and the starting-burner connected with the interior thereof, combined with \vicking or fibrous material within the passage conveying the liquid to the said burner, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. MORTIMER GOLDSMITH.

Witnesses:

J 0s. P. LIVERMORE, B. J. Novas. 

